Under Starling: Birdwatching
Under Starling Returns with “Bird Watching” – A Poignant Ode to Love and Nature
by Jack Rush
Following the success of their critically acclaimed debut album Murmurations, Ireland’s ever-rising Under Starling unveils their latest single, Bird Watching. Seamlessly blending alternative rock, acoustic elements, and pop-infused melodies, the track continues the band's exploration of raw emotion, nostalgia, and the natural world.
A Love Story Set Against Ireland’s Coastal Beauty
Inspired by the breath-taking landscape of Ireland’s southeast coast, Bird Watching captures an intimate, fleeting moment between two lovers before they must part ways. With bittersweet lyrics and lush sonic textures, the song embodies the tension between cherishing the present and accepting the inevitability of goodbye.
Reverb-soaked guitar melodies intertwine with a steady groove and a warm bassline, creating a hypnotic, dreamlike atmosphere. Danny’s evocative lead vocals, enriched by Molly Robb’s harmonies, add a haunting depth to the song’s emotional core. Through vivid imagery of skylarks, meadow pipits, gorse in bloom, rising tides, and drifting feathers, listeners are transported to a world where every moment is heightened and held close.
Building on the Legacy of Murmurations
Under Starling’s debut album, Murmurations, firmly established them as a force in modern Irish music. Praised for its seamless fusion of Irish folklore, alternative rock grit, and deeply personal storytelling, the album has garnered widespread acclaim. Their signature reverb-laden guitars, dynamic vocals, and culture-rooted narratives have drawn comparisons to icons like The Cranberries and U2, while their commitment to artistic evolution remains unwavering.
From the delicate acoustics of Hawthorn Tree to the anthemic intensity of The Hunger, Murmurations showcased the band’s artistic range. Now, Bird Watching further cements Under Starling’s status as one of the most exciting new voices in the UK and Irish music scene.
Nature has always been a silent yet omnipresent character in Under Starling’s music. Here, it frames the lovers' final moments together—before, like the titular birds, they must depart, leaving only the whisper of wings on the breeze and memories to be cherished.
It’s easy to picture the scene: music rising from a folktronic-meets-indie-guitar soundscape into a soaring, cinematic alt-rock crescendo—evoking birds flitting through meadows, the vibrant hues of gorse, a dark, tumbling sky above, and the mighty swell of the sea in the distance.
There is something both powerful and primal at work here. The imagery is timeless, the soundscape delicately woven yet anthemic when needed, and the pacing perfectly poised. The addition of Molly Robb’s harmonies, intertwining with Danny’s lead vocals like the thoughts of the lovers themselves, is a masterful touch. As the song reaches its crescendo, the sense of loss and longing becomes almost tangible—a final echo across the sky.
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